By: David Brice
Famed for its genial hospitality and warm African sun, Cape Town has something special to offer everyone, from backpackers to luxury holidaymakers. Whether you want to lounge on the renowned beaches of Clifton and Camps Bay or live it up on the vibrant V and A Waterfront, you'll find the magic of the world's most exciting continent served up in style. The Mother of Africa is widely regarded as one of the most uniquely beautiful areas in the world, and the moment you touch down you'll see exactly why. Table Mountain towers over the city, flanked by the Devil's Peak and Signal Hill, while the stretching Cape Peninsula is stroked by white sand beaches and peppered with green foliage and exotic flora and fauna. It's difficult to know where to head first, but culture buffs will want to dive into the myriad museums the city has to offer. In particular the Bo-Kaap is a small but engaging site dedicated to Cape Town's Muslim heritage, while the Cape Medical Museum provides a quirky and fascinating history of the region's medical past. A trip to the spectacular Kirstenbosch Botanical Gardens will scintillate the entire family. The gardens comprise 36 hectares of the most beautiful scenery in the world, situated on the eastern side of Table Mountain and overlooking False Bay and the Cape Flats. About 9,000 local species grow there, overwhelming the senses with extraordinary fragrances and colours. Equally essential is a visit to Robben Island prison, which once housed Nelson Mandela and is now a designated UN world heritage site. Guides, many of whom were actually inmates of the prison during apartheid, show groups around what comprises an intimate and remarkable glimpse into the country's divided past. As warm dusk sweeps in and the locals get in the mood for a 'jol', join the throngs and head into the pumping heart of the city. Music is the lifeblood of Cape Town's streets and you'll find everything you need to keep you on your feet, from latin-fused rhythms to classical and jazz to modern dance music. The pounding beats of the Drum Cafe, the cool serenades of the Green Dolphin restaurant and the extraordinary champagne cocktails of the Planet Bar will wheel you into a frenzy and keep you partying into the long, hot night. Of particular interest at this time of year is the annual Cape Town jazz festival, which takes place in early March. Even if you miss this opportunity to sun yourself to the cool horns, rest assured that spontaneity runs in the veins of local people and whatever time of year you arrive you're bound to find some kind of celebration, procession or public party to get involved with. Shopping addicts will be able to pick up a few genuine bargains, as goods from across Africa filter down to Cape Town and appear in the various market stalls and shops every weekend. The Greenmarket Square Flea Market is a good place to pick up authentic beads, rugs and ornaments, while the high street shops downtown are packed with the latest designer goodies, sunglasses and jeans. Finally, when your credit card is as hot as the atmosphere and you can revel no more, flop down on the beach and kick back. The coastal areas of Llandudno, Bantry Bay and Blouberg are all surrounded by the tranquillity and luxury of the wine country. Stretch back and close your eyes, sip a glass of the local tipple and pinch yourself to make sure it's not all just one big fantasy.
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David Brice is a partner at online travel agent Global Holidays. Full details of holidays and flights to South Africa and other popular destinations can be found at Global Holidays
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